ABOUT THE COVER
Alcohol is a booming business. But
its widespread abuse and addiction
is destroying the lives of many—
especially children.
Photo: stock.xchng
Why the prophetic conditions Series?
Knowledge and technology are explod- The
ing, yet the world is drowning in a sea of PROPHETIC
problems! Alcohol abuse is on the rise.
Vast regions of farmland are “dying of CONDITIONS
thirst” due to droughts and erratic weather Series
patterns. The allure of drugs is fast seducing a younger generation that no longer knows how to be kids.
Crime is more violent, more entrenched, more widespread than
ever. Immorality is robbing families and youth of their innocence by
“entertaining” sick, perverted, carnal desires. And the earth is choking in the pollution produced by humanity.
Why?
The Prophetic Trends and Conditions Series will report global
trends and problems. It explains why humanity is deluged with such
overwhelming—and insoluble—problems.
And points to mankind’s only solution!
Other prophetic conditions reports in the Series:
g Earthquakes and Volcanoes in Prophecy
g The Tragedy of Drug Abuse
g What’s Wrong With the Weather?
g The Worldwide Crime Wave
g This Polluted Earth
g Witches, Wizards and Spirits: Grave and Growing Danger
g The immorality explosion!
g Out of the Ashes: THE RISE OF EUROPE
g A Generation of PLEASURE SEEKERS
g THE EDUCATION CRISIS
g ABORTION – Woman’s Choice or Modern Holocaust?
g Why They Hate Us – Anti-Americanism on the Rise
g The New gambling plague
g Assault on the family
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Copyright © 2002, 2003 The Restored Church of God. Printed in the USA. All
rights reserved.
The Restored Church of God is not responsible for the return of unsolicited
articles and photos. Scriptures are quoted from either the King James or the New
King James version (Copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers), unless
otherwise noted.
Contact The Restored Church of God
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Canada
www.TheRCG.org
[email protected]
The Alcohol
Epidemic
The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
Since ancient times, man has produced alcohol. In North America alone, annual
alcohol sales have reached nearly $70 billion. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are
growing—can they be overcome? Now you can understand the shocking truth
of this global problem!
E
governments
spend billions of dollars
to combat alcoholism.
Television ads promote responsible drinking. Yet we continue
to read sensational news reports
about youth alcohol abuse. Mass
media attention is not changing the conditions and trends of
alcoholism in society. It is simply
bringing witness to a problem too
big to solve.
ach year,
Society’s attitude toward alcohol
is changing. Notice this television
ad campaign for a popular beer:
More than a decade ago, the slogan
for Michelob Beer was “Weekends
are made for Michelob.” Shortly
after, the ad was updated to “Put a
little weekend in your week.” The
latest ads say, “The night belongs to
Michelob.” In just ten years, alcohol
has transformed from a weekend
activity into a nightly habit.
Webster’s Dictionary defines alcoholism as “continued excessive or
compulsive use of alcoholic drinks.”
This differs slightly from the clinical
definition of alcoholism: “A chronic
disease, progressive and often fatal; it
is a primary disorder and not a symptom of other diseases or emotional
problems.”
Many do not understand that the
signs of alcoholism are apparent before
one technically becomes an alcoholic.
Nor do they understand the deeper
definitions of alcohol abuse.
The
PROPHETIC
CONDITIONS
Series: Part 1
ALCOHOL IN SOCIETY
A
lcohol abuse is divided into five
categories, based on the amount,
type and the effect of alcohol on the
drinker. While this list is not comprehensive, it will give you a basic understanding of alcoholism. You will begin
to see the complexity of the problem
and its effects on the alcoholic and
society.
The problem drinker: He has a
purely physiological addiction to alcohol. He uses it to combat emotional
problems in his life. A problem drinker
will drink excessively, but not compulsively. His drinking begins to affect his
emotional well-being—and his fami-
The Alcohol Epidemic The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
ly’s. This is usually the first stage of
alcoholism.
The hard drinker: Like a problem
drinker, he is able to control his habit.
This second category is best defined
by the physical problems appearing in
his life. Cirrhosis of the liver, intestinal
and other nutritional diseases begin to
develop. Like the problem drinker, no
outward signs are evident.
The periodic drinker: Consumes
alcohol in binges. Binge drinking is
the consumption of five or more drinks
for a male or four or more drinks for
a female in a single sitting. He will
completely abstain from alcohol, then
follow with heavy binge drinking.
These episodesare usually prompted by emotional swings or other psychological problems. He shows signs
of addiction and will exhibit loss of
control during these binge episodes.
The steady alcoholic: Most alcoholics fall into this category. They
show signs of addiction and loss of
control. They experience withdrawal from alcohol. These cravings then
begin to dominate their thinking. Their
tolerance for alcohol increases. It also
affects all areas of their lives, including
health.
The plateau alcoholic: He must
maintain a minimal amount of alcohol
in their system at all times. If he goes
1
without, he suffers severe and dramatic withdrawal. Maintaining a level
of alcohol in his blood allows him to
appear sober, but his social life will
slowly break down.
At this stage, his health will also
quickly deteriorate—ultimately leading to death.
While not technically belonging to
one of the five categories, a large portion of society displays many of these
characteristics. This causes many to
brush aside this growing problem. It is
a problem of “someone else—somewhere else.”
Is Alcoholism Your Problem?
Many view alcoholism this way: “It
does not affect me. Why should I be
concerned?” They pay their taxes and
live their lives without alcohol affecting their day-to-day actions.
Or so they think!
In 1992, the United States spent
$166 billion to combat this disease—
roughly $800 paid by each adult. And
the amount continues to rise. From
1992 to 1995, it rose an estimated
12.5% to over $200 billion!
Alcoholism affects more than just
your pocketbook. Consider car accidents. In the United States, three out
of ten people will be involved in an
alcohol-related accident. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
estimates that one alcohol-related traffic accident happens every two minutes. It increased 4% from 1999 to
2000, and has risen steadily since.
Nearly 13% of U.S. adults will
become victims of alcohol-related
crimes. It is also a key factor in nearly
half of all violent crime!
It may strike closer than you
think—even in your family. One out
of every eight American drinkers is an
alcoholic or experiences problems due
to drinking. Odds are, a member of
your family is one of those eight.
Alcohol abuse affects everyone!
The problem is not going away.
These growing numbers represent
alcohol’s continual corrosion of society.
Shattered Marriages
Studies show that consistent and stable family environments produce the
2
most grounded and successful children. A vital aspect is the love within
the family unit. This is especially true
of the married couple that creates the
foundation.
But today, marriage is no longer a
lifelong union. More than half of marriages end in divorce. It has become a
temporary contract, easily broken.
WHY?
Alcohol abuse is a big factor. It
destroys the family unit. According to
the “Getting Them Sober Foundation,”
alcoholism exists in 48% of American
families. About 50% of divorcees have
been exposed to alcohol abuse either
in a previous marriage or while growing up.
When a bottle becomes primary in
your life, everything else—including
your spouse and children—becomes
secondary.
When compared to couples that are
still married, divorced (or separated)
people are 300% more likely to have
been in a relationship with an alcoholic. The effect is not limited only to
their current marriage.
A second factor of divorce is
money. While many do not associate
a family’s income with alcohol, it
does have a staggering effect. In the
U.S., $107 billion worth of productivity was lost directly due to alcohol
abuse. Alcohol leads to sick days,
reduced paychecks, and eventually
unemployment. When bills cannot be
paid, problems arise—leading to more
drinking. This vicious cycle shatters
families!
Such actions have immediate and
measurable consequences on the marriage. But the effects on the children
are more difficult to determine.
Looking Up to Their Parents
Alcoholism affects children more than
most would imagine. Thirty million
adults were raised in alcoholic families.
When raised in a family that tolerates alcohol abuse, the child begins
to develop unhealthy attitudes toward
alcohol. He sees no fault in using it
excessively or feels no need to exercise control. Because of this, such
children are four times more likely to
become alcoholics.
Mounting evidence now points to
genetics. Children of alcoholics may
be born with a genetic predisposition
to alcoholism. It has been documented that alcohol, especially in excess,
causes irreversible changes to the
body. These new studies show that
children can inherit these changes
from their parents. Most children who
receive these “bad genes” are also
raised in an alcoholic home. But,
these problems must not be used as
an excuse.
Some children are born with short
fuses and must overcome anger. Others
constantly struggle with obesity and
must fight gluttony. Similarly, children
of alcoholics are born with a tendency
toward alcoholism. They may also
have to learn proper conduct from
improper parents. There are two types
of examples. A good one—to imitate,
or a bad one—to avoid. Their bad
example can help a child overcome
“bad genes,” by showing them how
not to behave.
When you combine predisposition
and an alcoholic household, it should
not shock you that nearly one-third of
all alcoholics have one or more parents who are also alcoholics. Often,
these children were exposed to alcohol
even before birth.
Mother’s Selfish Choices
The diet and health of a pregnant
woman determines the health of her
unborn child. Many do not understand
how dangerous alcohol—even in
small amounts—is to the development
of a fetus. No study has concluded
that even a small amount of alcohol
is safe for an unborn child. Doctors
recommend abstaining from alcohol
throughout the pregnancy.
Among pregnant women who
drink, fetal mortality rates are 77%
higher. Seventy-seven percent!
Even with dangers this great, 50% of
mothers reported drinking during their
pregnancy—some even binge drank.
While some infants survive
the pregnancy, most do not escape
unharmed. Infant diseases related
to alcohol affect more children than
Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, spina
bifida and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) combined!
prophetic conditions
The most widely publicized of
these alcohol-related diseases is Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). It affects
more than 12,000 infants every year.
FAS is a grouping of preventable
birth defects caused by mothers who
drink heavily. Most noticeable are the
infant’s malformations—small skull,
flattened face, sunken nose. Children
with FAS are smaller than their peers
and will experience a lifelong series of
FAS-related health problems.
Mental and neurobehavioral defects
are also common. Affected children
experience varying degrees of mental
retardation and require special care
throughout their lives.
FAS is the leading cause of mental
retardation and birth defects in nearly
ALL industrialized nations. Four times
as many suffer from FAS than AIDS
and HIV combined! This completely
preventable disease results in an annual cost of $2.8 billion, and destroys the
lives of children before they even take
their first breath.
A secondary, but overlooked, set
of problems is referred to as Fetal
Alcohol Effects (FAE). It affects four
times as many children as FAS. It
manifests itself as attention disorders
or behavioral problems. FAE children
are often never diagnosed. They spend
their entire lives dealing with these
problems. A July 20, 2001 NHDSA
Report stated that, of those suffering
from FAS, 95% suffer from mental
health problems; 68% have problems
with the law; 55% are institutionalized; and 52% exhibit inappropriate
sexual behavior.
The costs of FAE are not as visible
as those of FAS, making the exact dollar figures more difficult to establish.
But an estimated $1.4 billion is spent
on this problem annually.
Aside from FAS or FAE, growing up in alcoholic household, along
with the influences of the media, has a
strong influence on defining a child’s
view of alcohol and what constitutes
abuse.
Alcohol and Youth
Alcohol has a strong pull on today’s
youth. Advertising and media present a very glamorous picture—sipping
martinis, “partying it up” with friends.
They seldom show alcohol’s darker
side.
This makes it more acceptable and
causes youth to begin consuming it
at ever-younger ages—so young that
40% of fifth graders across the country
have tried alcohol. Some of these preteens have even reported binge drinking. As children enter their teen years,
the numbers become more dramatic.
By the time they have finished
grade school, 56% have tried alcohol.
The more alarming statistic? Fifteen
percent have reported heavy drinking—binge drinking five or more times
in the previous 30 days. It has immediate effects on children’s development
and health. But, as the trend dictates,
drinking becomes even heavier as they
enter high school.
By high school graduation, 80%
of students have tried alcohol. Over
a quarter report heavy drinking. They
are already reporting alcohol-related
health problems. This constant bombardment of alcohol into their developing system explains why nearly one
out of every five teenagers has reported “black out” spells—not remembering some—or any—of the previous
night.
Statistics show that a pattern has
been formed in high school. But these
trends among adolescents and teenagers pale in comparison to those found
among college students.
Drowning in College
Many have heard of first-year college students being overwhelmed—
drowning in their schoolwork. But
more and more students are replacing
schoolwork with beer. They are literally drowning their systems in alcohol.
Drinking has become so severe that it
is killing 1,400 students—every year!
College kids are three times as likely
to be binge and heavy drinkers if they
did so in high school.
A recent Harvard University study
reported some shocking facts. The
once male-dominated ritual of binge
drinking is no long gender-biased.
Women on campuses across the country “are not just drinking more; they’re
drinking ferociously” (Time, “Women
and Drink,” Patrick Kilcarr).
Since 1993, colleges have seen a
The Alcohol Epidemic The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
125% increase in binge drinking by
women. Sororities report that 80% of
their members are binge drinkers. This
has not come without consequences.
A 2001 Syracuse study reported that
twice as many women (as men) were
rushed to hospitals with alcohol poisoning.
Although the numbers for women
are rising to unprecedented levels,
they are not yet equal with men. More
than 50% of men have reported binge
drinking. The highest levels were in
fraternities, reporting numbers as high
as 86%.
This is having direct repercussions
on students. Frequent binge drinkers are 21 times more likely to have
problems related to drinking. Failing
classes or flunking out of college
is the least of their problems. The
Harvard study estimated that drinking was responsible for over 500,000
injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual
assault or date rape. It also reported that 400,000 students are having unprotected sex resulting from
drinking. Female drinkers reported a
150% increase in unplanned sexual
activities, date rape and sexual assault.
These increases contribute directly to
the steady rise in sexually-transmitted
diseases and unplanned pregnancy on
college campuses.
We have seen that alcohol abuse
begins as early as age five. It becomes
worse throughout high school. Then, it
explodes in college. The peak occurs
at age 21. Now legally able to drink,
65% of students report heavy drinking.
The most concerning statistic is
their denial of over-consumption.
More than 90% of binge and heavy
drinkers consider themselves moderate or light drinkers. Denial is one of
the first warning signs that someone is
becoming an alcoholic.
Widespread Problem
North America is not alone in the
problem of alcoholism. Almost every
country is experiencing problems with
it. Many are far worse than the United
States.
On February 21, 2001, European
health ministers met to discuss the
worsening problem of alcoholism in
3
Alcohol affects the brain in stages
SECOND AFFECTED
FIRST TO BE AFFECTED
Logic: Reason, intellect, judgment.
Fine motor skills: Advanced movement
Effects: May be pleasant, sociable,
relaxed or excited; decreased
inhibitions; impulsive behavior;
talkitive; reason, driving ability and
caution impaired.
(talking, writing, tying shoes, etc.).
Effects: Slight decrease in fine motor
skills; poor judgment; slightly slurred
speech; slow reaction time; impaired
hearing.
Parietal
lobe
occipital
Lobe
Frontal
Lobe
temporal
Lobe
Cerebellum
Brain
stem
Alcohol Effects
medulla
AND FIFTH
Vital functions: Controls
involuntary actions such as
breathing, digestion, etc.
Effects: Unconsciusness;
coma; respiratory and cardiac distress; death.
Source:
FOURTH
Semi-voluntary: Muscle
coordinationand balance.
Effects: Muscle coordination
and balance impaired; severe
confusion; semi-stuporous.
Alcohol Abuse—
Effects and Consequences
Alcohol abuse causes permanent changes in our bodies. Our bodies are well
designed and will compensate for stresses to its systems. But even our bodies
have limits. To better understand how
alcohol breaks these limits, you must
first understand how it affects the body.
Whether you drink a glass of wine,
4
THIRD
Gross motor skills: Basic
movement.
Effects: Confusion; staggering; unable to stand
up; slurred speech;
blurred vision; impaired
judgment of distance.
The Kingfisher Visual Factfinder.
www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/health/info/aod/brain.shtml
Europe. They began developing policies to reduce the growing percentages of youth drinking, because the
problem is out of control. In all deaths
involving youth, 25%—one in four—
are caused by alcohol!
Russia’s problem is far worse. In
Russia, vodka is often associated with
health and well-being. Many children
drink—and sell—vodka! Its association with prosperity and hope, in a
country devoid of both, has caused
this catastrophic problem. On average,
160 young people die from alcohol
poisoning EVERY DAY!
This explains why a University of
Vermont study showed that women,
on average, had a 10% higher blood
alcohol level than men. They try to
match male drinking habits when their
bodies where not designed to do so.
Research also shows that alcohol
corrodes the female body more quickly. This has resulted in women developing chronic liver diseases 10 to 15
years earlier, even if only a fraction of
alcohol is consumed.
Although women get drunk faster
than men, alcohol affects the brains of
both similarly. It inhibits the transmitters that allow your brain to function.
The slowing down of these transmitters is evident when you watch someone who is drunk.
a bottle of beer or a shot of spirits, you
are taking in approximately the same
amount of alcohol. Alcohol begins
breaking down in your stomach, mostly due to an enzyme called alcohol
dehydrogenase (ADH). Any alcohol
that is not broken down enters your
bloodstream and makes its way to
your tissues. The water in your body
facilitates the transfer from blood to
tissue. Brain, liver and kidney tissues
are heavily affected by alcohol.
It is important to note the differences between the effect of alcohol
in the male and female body. While
both have ADH in their stomachs, it
functions differently in women. This
enzyme is less active in its ability to
break down alcohol, causing more
alcohol to reach the blood. Women
also have more fat than muscle. Since
muscle stores more water, women
have less of it in their system. So, not
only do women have more alcohol
enter their blood, they also have more
concentrated amounts in their tissues!
The only exception to this is the chemical serotonin. When you first drink
alcohol, the level of serotonin sharply
increases. It is responsible for happiness, excitement and mood stability.
Most anti-depressants work by regulating serotonin levels in the brain.
But unlike anti-depressants, the
serotonin increase from alcohol is
short-lived. Alcohol’s numbing effects
eventually reach the receptors that take
in serotonin. This causes the absorbed
amount of serotonin to drop dramatically below normal. You can observe
this in someone who is drinking. The
first few drinks will cause him to cheer
up and become talkative. However, as
the drinking continues, his mood will
be more somber, or he will experience
severe mood swings.
As blood alcohol level (BAL)
increases, these transmitters and receptors become less and less efficient.
Lower BALs affect higher-level functions in the brain, such as the senses,
speech and related thought processes.
As great BALs are reached, low-level
functions, such as breathing and coordination, are also affected.
At the very lowest BALs, alcohol
tends to lift spirits, and cause individuals to become more talkative. Many
have heard the expression, “wine
makes the heart merry.”
As the alcohol continues to flow,
inhibitions disappear. Judgment
becomes impaired. Speech slurs. If
prophetic conditions
Effects of blood alcohol level
Alcohol affects motor skills and decision making in a number of ways
0.15
Balance / movement are impaired.
0.02
Some effect
for light
drinkers.
0.06
010**
0.30 May
lose consiousness.
0.40
Most lose
Judgment and
Reaction time
consciousness.
ability to make
and control
Some die.
rational decisions
deteriorates.
impaired.
0.04
0.08*
0.12
0.45
Relaxation
Muscle
Vomiting
Breathing stops.
occurs.
coordination
usually
This dose is fatal
and driving
occurs.
for most people.
skills impaired.
* Legal limit in some U.S. states. ** Legal limit in most U.S. states.
drinking continues, coordination will
become jerky and haphazard. This
is the stereotypical “falling-down
drunk.”
Past this point, the individual
begins to slip in and out of consciousness. Breathing may be suppressed.
Continued drinking will exaggerate
these conditions. The drinker may stop
breathing completely, or slip into a
coma and die.
Processing Alcohol
Our bodies have a type of built-in
mechanism to avoid death by alcohol
poisoning. Most will “pass out” before
poisoning occurs. But binge drinkers
drink so much, so fast, that their bodies
do not have time to use this mechanism. Acute intoxication—alcohol poisoning—hospitalizes more people than
any other alcohol-related problem.
Your body has multiple methods to
metabolize (break down) alcohol and
will even overcompensate when repeatedly flooded with too much.
The concentration of AHD is highest in your liver. Most alcohol is broken
down there. A chemical reaction con-
verts alcohol into an acid, which can
be expelled. Alcohol also metabolizes
in the kidneys and is expelled as urine.
All remaining alcohol evaporates into
the lungs, where it is exhaled.
A common misconception is that
one can “beat” a Breathalyzer by eating. A Breathalyzer test actually reads
the amount of alcohol evaporating from
your blood, into your lungs. It has nothing to do with your stomach.
Your body is resilient and can
recover from large doses of alcohol.
But, if repeated, it begins to change its
functionality to compensate. The liver
is the first organ to begin responding to
prolonged alcohol abuse. The enzymes
that break down alcohol begin to be
mass-produced. This puts stress on the
liver. Over time, parts of the liver will
harden and die.
The corrosive nature of alcohol will
also irritate the stomach and intestines.
The combination of these effects is why
alcohol is responsible for hypertension,
cerebrovascular disease, chronic hepatitis and other chronic liver diseases.
The brain will also attempt to overcompensate for the lack of efficiency
The Alcohol Epidemic The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
in its transmitters and receptors. It will
fire both faster and with more intensity.
This allows alcoholics to appear “normal,” even with a high BAL. But like
an engine that is revved extremely high
for extended periods, things will break
down.
In the case of the brain, the receptors and transmitters will stop firing
altogether. Not only does this “revving”
of the brain kill it, it also leads to the
addictive nature of alcohol.
Overstimulating the brain’s nerves,
in and of itself, is addictive. When
drunk, an alcoholic will appear sober.
But when actually sober, he is jittery
and short-tempered. He will then associate a certain level of alcohol with
feeling normal. A third effect is related
to his decreased serotonin levels. As
explained above, serotonin is largely
responsible for stability of mood and
happiness. This decrease results in a
lack of emotional control.
These emotional effects change,
depending on the level of intoxication
and gender of the drinker. It is most
notably marked between genders by
our natural social inhibitions. Because
5
inhibitions between the sexes differ, the
response to lack of inhibitions is equally
different. Men will tend to be brass and
more prone to violence when drunk.
Women will become more sexually
liberal and trusting. These differences
usually lead to unwanted consequences
and regrets the next morning.
Because of such consequences, both
genders will typically sink into depression and self-pity when sober. Some
studies show that this depression is
more likely to result in suicide for
girls. Eighth grade girls who are heavy
drinkers are three times more likely to
commit suicide than their peers.
Both genders will associate alcohol with a release of these feelings.
They will try to drink themselves out
of depression or numb their minds to
reality. With the body over-compensating for the amount consumed, they
will have to drink more and more to
reach the same level of intoxication.
This cycle caused 19,171 alcoholinduced deaths in 1999. This is only
direct alcohol deaths—such as alcohol
poisoning. It does not take into account
deaths due to alcohol-related diseases.
Alcohol abuse is the primary cause of
chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, the
12th leading cause of death in the U.S.
With such incredible evidence
against alcohol, you may wonder why
it is legal—and socially acceptable.
Although widely misunderstood, alcohol—in moderation—does not have
these negative effects. In fact, moderate alcohol consumption has many
health benefits.
Alcohol for Health
Wine is famous for its health benefits.
For centuries, it has been considered a
superior beverage. Louis Pasteur stated,
“Wine is the most healthful and most
hygienic of beverages.”
The favor of wine has also shown
itself in non-medical circles. Plato said,
“No thing more excellent nor more
valuable than wine was ever granted
mankind by God.” While extreme, such
statements shine light on the attitudes
toward wine through the centuries.
A recent study by the World Health
Organization showed a marked drop in
heart disease in France. A French diet
tends to be high in dairy fats, consid6
ered to be a cause of heart disease. This
brought special attention to an apparent
statistical paradox.
When researchers added wine
consumption into their analysis, they
noticed an interesting fact: Regions
with moderate levels of wine consumption had a noticeable drop in heart disease. This was the first modern research
into the health benefits of wine.
Other studies have continued to
show that not only wine, but all types
of alcohol—consumed in moderate
amounts—can lower instances of heart
disease. When consumed with a meal,
wine has also been shown to aid digestion.
Both wine and beer are rich in minerals and vitamins. One liter of beer has
up to 60% of your daily fiber requirements. While the physical benefits of
alcohol continue to be discovered, the
emotional and social benefits have been
known for millennia.
Wine and beer are common at social
gatherings. An expensive dinner is not
considered complete without the appropriate wine.
Alcohol has the ability to calm
the nerves and help people become
more social. Alcohol has been shown
to stimulate the social centers of the
brain, ease nervousness, and open conversation.
Alcohol has numerous physical and
social benefits. It has been used for
centuries all over the world. But many
religions have condemned alcohol
completely. They claim that it should
not be consumed—that it is a sin.
But what does the Bible say about
alcohol and drinking?
The
PROPHETIC
CONDITIONS
Series: Part 2
WHAT THE BIBLE
TEACHES
T
he Bible goes into more detail
about alcohol than most realize.
Like many subjects in God’s Word,
many have preconceived ideas about
what it teaches.
The Bible does teach how to consume alcohol. Both the Old and New
Testament discuss different types of
alcohol.
Yet many “Christians” teach that,
instead of moderation, we should
abstain from alcohol completely.
Abstinence or Moderation?
On most issues, it seems that there are
two ditches—two extremes—people
fall into. This is true with drinking.
One ditch is the belief that the Bible
states that all drinking is wrong—sinful. Alcohol abuse and drunkenness
is the other ditch. But is all use of
alcohol wrong? Or does the Bible
teach that its misuse is wrong?
People have ignored what God’s
Word teaches about this. For example,
the Women’s Temperance movement
of the late 1800s and early 1900s
played a large role in the legal prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. This organization was considered the “moral
watchdog” of the nation. The name
of the organization is misleading. It
should have more appropriately been
called, “The Women’s Prohibition”
or “Abolition” Movement. They did
not believe in temperance—but rather
total abstinence. They believed that
the problem was any use of alcohol,
rather than its abuse.
The period of prohibition in the
U.S. was short-lived. Smugglers
brought loads of illegal alcohol across
lakes and up rivers, or on trucks, concealed in ingenious ways to bypass
the authorities. Soon the government
realized that private demand for alcohol outweighed public demand to
ban it.
Wine or Grape Juice?
Before discussing the Bible’s view on
alcohol, let’s remove the misconceptions. A common one is that the meaning of the word translated in the New
Testament as “wine” is actually grape
juice or possibly even molasses.
Actually, there are fifteen words
from the Hebrew and Greek translated
“wine” in the Bible. Let’s compare
these words in the context in which
they are used. This will help in better
understanding their scriptural meanings.
prophetic conditions
Genesis 9:21 is the first scripture in
which wine is mentioned. The Hebrew
word used there is yayin. It always
means “fermented wine, primarily from
grapes.” Notice: “And he [Noah] drank
of the wine [yayin], and was drunken.”
If Noah became drunk, then he could
not have been drinking grape juice.
This could not have been anything
other than an alcoholic beverage.
Now notice verse 24: “And Noah
awoke from his wine.” This indicates
it was the wine that made him sleep or
that had caused him to pass out. Grape
juice or molasses does not cause people
to pass out.
Further, I Samuel 25:36 states,
“Nabal held a feast…and Nabal’s heart
was merry within him, for he was very
drunken.” This is another proof that
wine was an intoxicating drink.
One more Old Testament example
is found in Isaiah 28: “Woe to the
drunkards of Ephraim…that are overcome with wine [yayin]” (vs. 1).
Next, notice Genesis 14:18. One
identified as Melchizedek, King of
Salem, served wine to Abraham. This
wine (yayin) was the same liquid that
had made Noah drunk! Hebrews 7:2-3
states that Melchizedek was “king of
peace…without father, without mother,
without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made
like unto the Son of God; abides a
priest continually.”
This Person is none other than
Jesus Christ! (For proof, request our
free booklet The Bible’s DIFFICULT
SCRIPTURES Explained!) God brought
Abraham wine because He approved of
the modest use of alcohol.
Another Hebrew word, shekar,
means “an inebriating drink.” This
is wine prepared or distilled either
from honey, dates or barley. The Bible
describes it as “strong drink.” This is
definitely an intoxicating drink—one
containing alcohol.
The Feast of Tabernacles
God says that it is not improper to
desire wine or strong drink during His
annual Feast of Tabernacles, which He
commands His people to keep: “And
you shall bestow that money for whatsoever your soul lusts after [desires],
for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or
for strong drink, or for whatsoever your
soul desires: and you shall eat there
before the Lord your God, and you
shall rejoice, you, and your household”
(Deut. 14:26).
The Feast of Tabernacles (occurring
in the fall) is one of seven annual Holy
Days, or feasts, which God commands
His people to observe. The true Church
of God keeps them. (Request our free
booklet God’s HOLY DAYS or Pagan
Holidays?)
Wine can also be used to help one
relax and rejoice. King Solomon wrote,
“A feast is made for laughter, and wine
makes merry” (Ecc. 10:19). There are
several places in the Bible where God
emphasizes the importance of having a
merry heart and enjoying hearty laughter. Modest amounts of wine or other
kinds of alcohol can help promote this.
Many additional scriptures could
be cited to show God’s servants using
wine in a responsible way, and with
God’s approval.
New Testament Word for Wine
The New Testament word translated “wine” is usually the Greek
word oinos. The story of the Good
Samaritan shows that wine (fermented
alcohol) can be used as an antiseptic
to treat wounds. A small amount of oil
(usually olive oil) would be poured on
the wound to soften it, and then a little
wine used to cleanse it (Luke 10:3037). Today, rubbing alcohol is still
used as an antiseptic.
Water Into Wine
Jesus’ first recorded miracle was to
change water into wine. Take note
that His miracle was not the other way
around! He did not change wine into
water. Not only did Christ approve of
drinking wine, but His miracle was
actually for the purpose of providing
alcohol for everyone in attendance!
The “governor” at the wedding even
commented that it was “good wine”
(Jn. 2:1-12).
If this had merely been grape juice,
he would not have said, “but You have
kept the good wine until now.” The
point is that better wine would normally be consumed at the start of a
feast, and that of inferior quality should
be saved for later, when the taste is not
The Alcohol Epidemic The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
quite as important. This principle does
not apply to grape juice.
A Warning from Proverbs
Some scriptures, if not read carefully,
seem to condemn the use of wine.
But they do not condemn its right
use—only its wrong use. Nowhere in
the Bible does God condemn drinking
wine—as long as it is not abused.
In fact, as stated above, He encourages its modest use, along with other
strong drink, during the Feast of
Tabernacles. The moment that overdrinking begins is the moment that sin
begins.
Let’s now consider Proverbs 23:2935 (NKJV): “Who has woe? Who has
sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has
complaints? Who has wounds without
cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those
who linger long at the wine, those who
go in search of mixed wine. Do not
look on the wine when it is red, when
it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls
around smoothly; at the last it bites like
a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your
eyes will see strange things, and your
heart will utter perverse things. Yes,
you will be like one who lies down in
the midst of the sea, or like one who
lies at the top of the mast, saying:
‘They have struck me, but I was not
hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not
feel it. When shall I awake, that I may
seek another drink?’”
This describes someone who has
consumed way too much alcohol. A
drunk is belligerent, combative, seemingly always ready for a fight—and
always complaining about this or that
injustice, because his senses are in a
stupor. Those in this condition commonly seem to imagine themselves as
having been wronged. Overuse of alcohol blurs judgment and perception.
This paints the familiar picture of a
drunk stumbling and falling, and perhaps bruising himself without knowing
it. His bloodshot eyes (redness) come
from excessive drinking. Later, he may
sober up and wonder where his injuries
came from. Yet he may already be
looking for his next drink.
The Bible clearly defines an alcoholic and his problems. He cannot
function properly, is often anti-social,
and, in the end, is usually concerned
7
only for himself. He disregards the
needs of others.
Does any part of this picture resemble you? Is this a picture of your weekends—or even a typical weeknight out?
Are you one who goes to the local tavern or bar for “just one,” but does not
know when to quit? Drunkenness and
alcoholism clearly violate God’s Law.
The apostle Paul wrote that no
thieves, idolators, adulterers, extortioners or drunkards, etc., “shall inherit the
kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).
God has standards—and they are
described in His Word. This includes
the right and wrong use of alcohol.
God prescribes neither abstinence nor
overuse of alcoholic beverages.
Moderation in All Things
Is drinking wine and other alcohol sinful pleasure, or a healthful, life-improving habit? We saw that Christ approved
of it. His actions and words set the
example Christians must follow.
God expects us to use alcohol wisely. Drinking is not wrong or sinful—but
abusing it is! The bottle is not the
problem—it is the person holding the
bottle!
As with food, money or anything
that has the potential for misuse, moderation is the Bible standard for all true
Christians. Paul wrote, “everyone that
strives for the mastery is temperate in
all things” (I Cor. 9:25), and “Let your
moderation be known unto all men”
(Phil. 4:5).
Does your drinking interfere with
your day-to-day life? Are you concerned with how it affects your health?
Alcoholism is a problem that can be
overcome. But first you must truly
want to overcome it.
The
PROPHETIC
CONDITIONS
Series: Part 3
OVERCOMING
ALCOHOLISM
L
ike any addiction, alcoholism
can be beaten. An alcoholic can
overcome and stop the control alcohol
8
has over his life. Unfortunately, most
never seek help. Nearly 90% of alcoholics will eventually die from conditions related to their addiction.
Overcoming alcoholism is not just
a matter of giving up drinking. The
alcoholic must take definitive steps to
remove the influence of alcohol from
his habits and lifestyle.
Alcoholics have used alcohol as a
way to cope with their social and personal problems. Steps must be taken to
create other ways to cope.
As we have seen, alcohol permanently changes the brain’s chemical
makeup. This changes the way your
body will react to it. Once someone
becomes an alcoholic, he can never
drink alcohol again. Any attempt to
become a moderate drinker will cause
him to fall back into his old patterns.
Another danger is addiction to
other drugs. Experts have found that
the brain has an “addictions switch.”
Once this switch has been turned on, it
can never be turned off. This leaves the
alcoholic susceptible to other forms of
addiction. Many who try to stop drinking replace alcohol with drugs, food,
gambling or sex.
This is why alcohol (and all addiction) treatments focus on becoming
alcohol-free. Once you have turned
on your addiction switch, you cannot
drink “normally” again.
Although the process may be difficult, alcoholism can be overcome,
through personal motivation and support—from God and family.
Understanding the Alcoholic
Family and friends usually begin the
healing process. But before confronting an alcoholic, you must first understand the process the alcoholic must go
through. If you are a family member or
friend of an alcoholic, it is critical that
you are educated in how alcoholism has
affected you.
This report has given you deeper
understanding of how alcohol effects the
alcoholic and society. While this information is important, you must understand the physical and emotional effects
that giving up alcohol will have on the
addict.
Do not expect an alcoholic to quit
“cold turkey.” Doing so may harm heavy
drinkers. Their bodies have become
accustomed to alcohol. They must slowly remove it from their systems. If they
do it too quickly, they will suffer severe
and life-threatening withdrawal.
Many recovering alcoholics relapse
into drinking. However, do not view this
as a failure, but as a temporary setback
on the road to an alcohol-free life. Like
overcoming any sin, the battle is lifelong. Friends and family must especially
support them if they relapse.
Confronting the Alcoholic
Confronting an alcoholic with his problem can be a turning point toward
starting his recovery. Those with an
influence in his life are the most successful. Before any action is taken, the
confrontation process must be thoroughly understood.
A common misconception is that
alcoholics must hit “rock bottom”
before any recovery can begin. Many
alcoholics receive treatment because
they are forced to make choices due to
confrontation.
A confronted alcoholic may feel
backed into a corner. He will try to
avoid taking responsibility for his problem. He may issue many false promises
and hopes without taking the necessary steps to begin treatment. Giving
firm and constant pressure—in a loving
manner—should help him overcome
this initial hurdle.
There are many professional organizations that can assist in the confrontation process. They include classes and
primers to help make it successful. It
is critical to have a full understanding before beginning. When properly
applied, this can assist the alcoholic in
taking his first steps toward sobriety.
Treating the Problem
Once an alcoholic recognizes his problem, he must seek treatment. Alcohol
abuse affects both the mind and body.
These problems must be addressed
separately.
Physically, the alcoholic may suffer
from dietary deficiencies. Correcting
them will help both the body and the
mind. As the body gets stronger, less
energy will be spent repairing the physical damage. This energy can be used to
repair emotional damage. Proper diet
prophetic conditions
also promotes good mental health and
is essential to emotional recovery.
As previously stated, the most
important part of recovery is learning
how to cope. The alcoholic has developed a pattern of turning to alcohol
whenever a problem arises. This must
be replaced with proper methods of
coping and teaching the alcoholic how
to solve problems—instead of hiding
from them.
Many organizations have been
established to help with both sides of
the healing process. But special care is
needed in choosing one. Some will only
focus on a particular phase of recovery.
You must properly understand the purpose and mission of the support group
or center before becoming involved
with them.
Some have detoxification centers.
They allow the alcoholic to slowly dry
the body of alcohol. Over time, severe
alcoholics may have saturated their
bodies with alcohol and will need to
“dry out” their systems.
Others focus on the emotional
aspect of the process. Depending on the
alcoholic’s recovery phase, different
organizations may be more effective.
A long-standing organization is
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It
focuses on the recovering alcoholic’s
long-term health. Although it does not
have detox facilities, it supports the
alcoholic emotionally and teaches him
how to improve his diet. AA has been
effective in helping alcoholics achieve
permanent sobriety.
If located in the U.S., or in
anada, Britain, Australia or other
Commonwealth nations, information
on these programs can be found in
your telephone book or on government websites.
Citizens of other countries should
contact their local government for more
information. The U.S. and Canadian
government have websites that offer
more information on treatment and
support organizations.
Look to God
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse is a catastrophic problem in the world! It tears
apart families, marriages and lives. The
billions spent each year are failing to
combat this ever-increasing problem.
As world conditions grow worse, more
will use alcohol as an escape—more
lives lost and families destroyed.
But you can overcome it!
This world accepts many sins. Often
what is simply sin is called a syndrome—disease. Calling alcoholism a
disease takes the responsibility away
from the drinker. Unlike the flu, you do
not “catch” alcoholism. You choose it!
Society will always make excuses
for sin. But God’s Word declares that no
drunkards “shall inherit the kingdom of
God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).
Alcoholism is sin. God would
never bar someone from His kingdom
because of a disease! If alcoholism were
merely a disease, He would heal it (Psa.
103:3)—not command against it! God
heals diseases—not choices. The choice
is yours to make.
You can beat alcoholism and alcohol
abuse. You can exercise moderation in
all aspects of your life. Look to your
friends and family for support and guidance. There are programs to teach you
how to cope with your problems.
But most of all, look to God! He can
give you the understanding, hope and
power to overcome alcohol abuse. 
The Alcohol Epidemic The Tragic Curse of Alcohol Abuse
9
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